A.N.: Whew! Done! I'm just done with this chapter! It can burn or bust for all I care. I can't believe the number of times I had to rewrite this damn chapter.

Tags: WBWL, isekai, Weasley bashing (most of them), Potter's bashing, manipulative Dumbledore, ministry bashing, eventual harem.

Normal people talking "Hello. How are you?"

People thinking 'Thinking on something good.'

Monster or demon talking "*Drool* Hmmm meat~"

Monster or demon thinking 'I want that shiny precious thing.'

Chapter 3: Footsteps

Arnell advanced with confidence to Professor's Baldovin's desk, where the professor was sitting.

Professor Baldovin was perhaps one of the best teachers at the college. A tall robust man on his fifties with a balding head and a black greying beard wearing dark red robes. His piercing honey brown almond shaped eyes were set on the pages of the book he was reading.

He was perhaps, one of the most successful teachers at the college, if not the next in line to become the director. Everyone respected Baldovin as a teacher who had successfully taught generations of mages and sorcerers the arts of the arcane.

Now, it was Arnell's time to show his value to the professor.

Arnell grinned in triumph as he presented professor Baldovin with a red glowing stone. The professor took the stone, inspecting meticulously and nodded. "Go to your seat, Latrua." With a gleeful grin he went to his seat throwing all the other students an 'I'm better than you' look.

The elderly professor stood up and paced back and forth with the stone in hand. "The philosopher stone…" he started. "The pinnacle of alchemy… one of the greatest gifts to those who walk the path of the arcane. Said to turn metal to gold and create an elixir that grants eternal life…"

Arnell's peers were focusing solely on the Baldovin, as he monologued. At this point Arnell was grinning.

"What nonsense." And with that the professor smashed the stone against his desk, shattering the stone.

Arnell's face went from gleeful to a shocked look, his stone… his precious stone… destroyed!

"Latrua. You, like many before you, had been tricked in your quest to obtain the stone. What you brought to this class can indeed turn metal to gold and create the elixir of eternal life. However, the real stone is something else." He said admonishing the blond young man. "The real stone is nothing fancy like this stone, it would be no different than any stone you find on the fields or at a river bank." Said the professor picking a shard of the red stone. "However, the true Philosopher Stone, grants infinite knowledge to its owner. It can be used in alchemic formulas and rituals, nullifying the cost of such rituals to zero. It can even be used to open gates to different planes of existence." The professor shook his head as he threw Arnell a disappointed look. "You have learned a long time ago to change the properties of metals, you even know there are ways to extend our natural lifespans through certain spells or potions. To suggest this was the real stone is nothing but foolishness."

Arnell's face grew red as time passed, he could hear his peers whispering and snickering. Once the period ended, he left in a hurry. 'Damn that old man! Damn him to hell!'

"Did you see his face? Hah! That will show that pompous ass!"

He grinded his teeth together as he heard one of his peers mocking him. 'You will see. One day, I will own this damn college. I will show you!' He thought retreating back to his chambers. 'I will show you all.'

Present time

Arnell snapped back to reality finding himself inside his tent. He scowled as he realized he was once again reminiscing on the past. 'Baldovin. There is no way to measure how much I loathed you.' The visage of his old teacher flashed in his mind. 'You and your precious students.' He growled but he chuckled softly as he remembered how he poisoned his most hated teacher. 'That look at the moment he realized I poisoned him… priceless.'

"Erm." Hicks walked in the tent throwing a look to the undead, then to the side and back to the undead. "We are about to depart."

He nodded and lifted his glamour. Muffled screams could be heard. "Tell Vault I won't take long."

"Yeah, sure, erm." The muffled screams continued. "Have a good meal." He said as he saw the undead creeping over the bound and muffled vagrant the undead abducted back at Feoh. The tent was illuminated in a purple glow as the undead sucked something out of the vagrant's body, a wispy blue mist that went into the undead's mouth. It did not take long for the body of the vagrant to break down and turn to dust. 'No matter how many times I see this shit. This is too fucked up.' He hurried to leave before the undead had any ideas. He did not want to be lich food.

The undead growled in frustration. "Pathetic, this was nothing if not a pittance. I need more sacrifices. More souls to consume. Why does this eostian rabble have so little substance?" He needed to gather enough souls for the ritual. He would not return as a common man but as an all-powerful sorcerer. He would no longer be defied, never again.

Assuming his human disguise, he walked out of the tent, he was annoyed as he strode across the campsite 'Hope that Arturus girl does not keep us waiting.'

Scene change

Hadrian was in an overgrown ruin in the middle of a forest. A large cauldron filled with a green putrid liquid sat on the middle of the ruin. Normally, he would use his workshop, but he knew how dangerous it was to brew this particular concoction on a closed space. A bubble popped releasing a foul noxious stench. He produced a vial from his robe, the vial contained a blue glowing liquid, it was almost empty, there were but a few drops left. He poured the last drops in the cauldron and stepped back a green mushroom shaped cloud erupted from the cauldron.

He picked some stones from the ruin and engraved some runes on them. Once he got four, he placed them around the ruin. He clasped his hands together as if in prayer "Abjuration: Sanctuary" soon enough, a yellow barrier flared to life surrounding the ruins and turning invisible. "Good, this should keep off animals and people away from this place." Giving one last glance at the cauldron, he turned around and made his way back to Thorn. 'If the worst comes to happen and Cellestine's visions come to pass… I will be ready.'

'The dark lord will rise again.' Those were the parting words the pale lady gave him on her last visit.

He could not just simply ignore it. Should it happen, he will be ready.

As he kept walking the road back to Thron, he came across a group of three individuals, all wearing hooded cloaks.

"You. Are you Blackwell? The healer?" asked one of them casually approaching the doctor.

"Well, I am a doctor, not a healer, but yes, is someone in need of medical assistance?" asked Hadrian.

"No, but you will soon enough." He said the unsheathing his sword as two more men flanked the doctor from behind.

Hadrian glanced back. He was surrounded. "You have me at a disadvantage, you know who am I, yet, I don't know who you are, or rather, who sent you."

"We are not going to talk." Hissed one of the men.

"I see… I don't suppose we can ignore this happened and go on our ways?" Asked Hadrian as his eyes started to glow brighter behind his glasses.

"Not a chance." One of the hooded men spat as he stepped closer to the doctor.

Hadrian stiffened and grabbed his glasses. "Fine." He chuckled taking off his glasses. "I did not want to do this, but if you insist... Abjuration: Lesser Barrier."

With that he conjured a magical dome shaped barrier around him and overpowered it, causing it to expand and push away the thugs around him, throwing them away in opposite directions.

"Abjuration: Whirlwind."

"W-what the-?!" Hadrian blurred in front of the leader as this one was regaining his footing, he grabbed the man's wrist, and twisted it to the side until it made a loud snapping sound. "?!" With a scream the assassin dropped his sword which Hadrian caught on midair. "W-wait-!"

*Squelch!*

With a swing of his newly acquired sword, the head of the assassin was separated from the man's shoulders and fell to the ground, rolling down to the side of the road.

With the assassin decapitated he moved on to the second and third assassin.

"They said it was going to be an easy job!" The second assassin roared charging and clashing swords with the doctor. "Who even are you?" he grunted as the doctor pushed back.

The doctor did not answer, instead he closed his free hand on a fist and swung it down on the assassin's face with crushing force making him stumble and clutch his now broken nose. It did not end there, though.

The air became heavier as stones and dirt started to levitate and gather around Hadrian, he controlled them with his magic and made it adopt the crude shape of a boulder stone sized fist. "Transmutation: Stone Fist" Before the assassin could recover from the punch Hadrian swung his fist forward and the stone replica followed his movements slamming into the assassin's side and shattering into pieces, crushing several organs, and hurling the assassin across the field.

"You-! *clang!*" Hadrian blocked the sword strike with his own, a fearful look spread over the would-be killer.

"I hate fighting." Said Hadrian. "I despise it." He continued. "You know why?" He asked pushing the assassin back. "It's because once I start… I can't stop."

The doctor clashed swords with the would-be killer, he was unrelenting, but what scared the assassin was the impassive look on the doctor's face. "Damn you!" cursed the assassin, blocking a strike aimed at his side.

At this point the other two remaining assassins surrounded the doctor with blades at the ready. "He is but one man. Remember who sent us." Hissed one of the cloaked individuals, knowing they had a dark lord on their side.

They could not simply return to the dark lord and report they failed. They had seen what the undead do to those that fail him. Having their lifeforce sucked out of their bodies at the hands of an undead was not something they planned to do in the coming future.

Hadrian shook his head. "*sigh* You fools. Charging to your deaths because someone told you to."

"Shut up!" roared the assassin behind him as he was about to stab him. Hadrian evaded the incoming strike taking a quick step to the left, evading the blade and struck back with a quick jab to the face followed by a front kick throwing him off balance.

"Transmutation: Earth Pillar" As the assassin was about to land on the floor, a stone pillar struck the assassin propelling him into the air followed by falling headfirst on the ground, breaking his neck. "Destruction: Lightning." with his free hand he shot a discharge of lightning to the second assailant shocking him and incapacitating him.

"-!" With a roar the last assassin still standing swung his blade to cut down the doctor, but the doctor expertly dodged his swing and retaliated with a swing of his own cutting a deep gash in the assassin's thigh. Feeling the pain, the man roared and lifted his blade to bring it down with all his strength on the doctor… However, the doctor was faster and thrusted his blade in the man's gut. The assassin gasped in pain, his sword clattering on the dirt road. "You are no healer! You are a killer!" He growled spitting blood.

The assassin tried to reach for his sword to strike back at the doctor. If he was going to die, he would take the doctor down with him. With a roar he swung his sword at the doctor. Yet, the doctor retaliated, plucking the sword out of the man's guts and swinging it, cutting off the assassin's offending arm. Blood gushed out of the stump as the assassin cried in both shock and pain at seeing his arm fall to the ground. He had no time to scream as the black-haired doctor thrusted the sword into the man's mouth piercing through the back of his skull.

With a grunt, the doctor plucked out the sword and kicked off the body, glancing around he spotted the assassin he shocked with his lightning spell. The assassin was still alive. Kicking away the man's weapon he crouched down.

The black-haired doctor's eyes took on a frosty edge. "Who sent you?" Hadrian asked as the assassin groaned and slowly opened his eyes.

"I won't talk." The man growled out glaring daggers at the doctor, whishing he could reach for his blade. "So go ahead and kill me."

Hadrian sighed. "Very well." He said lifting his 'borrowed' sword up in the air and burying the blade deep on the assassin's chest. The assassin coughed blood and tried to reach out with his hand at something Hadrian could not see, then it fell flat on the ground.

Scene change

When Hadrian arrived home, Kaguya was there, on the living room, sitting in meditation. He decided to leave her to her own devices and headed for the bathroom, missing how she opened her eyes and watched him walk to the bathroom.

Hadrian went inside the bathroom and closed the door. He took off his robes and neatly folded them before putting them on a basket.

He washed himself with cool water before getting on the wooden bathtub of lukewarm water.

Sighing contently, he relaxed in the bath. "No matter where I go. There are some things that never change."

He closed his eyes shut as he submerged under the water. 'I guess it can't be avoided…'

Time skip

The days went by and Hadrian worked tirelessly in preparation for what may come to pass.

"Good news." Began Kaguya as she sat next to him eating her own breakfast. "The kuroinu and Feoh's force managed to secure the area around northern Feoh. With some luck, they will have the outpost build in a matter of weeks." That Arnell fellow we met had been pivotal in this campaign." She frowned recalling their meeting with Arnell, whenever she thought about the man, she would feel nothing but bitter resentment towards the man. Not only did he disrespect Hadrian, but he had also been insulting Alicia as of lately. "Despite his horrible personality" She said trying not to go on a rant about the man. "He does seem to be quite the fearsome mage. They said he conjured massive balls of fire that rained down on the hordes of charging aberrants." Kaguya relayed what she heard to the doctor.

"Truly? That's nice… I guess." He commented with disinterest. The only thing that mattered to him was that the outpost would be finished in but a few weeks' time.

Kaguya raised an eyebrow noticing the doctor's lack of interest. "Are you not happy that our alliance would secure such a large area? This will be the alliance first major victory against Olga in centuries."

"I guess you are right." Hadrian nodded with an absentminded expression on his face which made Kaguya frown. She had noticed how he had been more focused on his work at the hospice and sometimes disappearing for several hours with no one able to find him. "Anyways, I better head to the hospice." He stood up stretching his back and rolling his neck. "Hm?" He noticed how she stood up and was fixing her clothes, smoothing the wrinkles in her robe. "…" Giving the shrine maiden one last glance he headed for the door and walked outside.

But not soon after he stiffened and looked to his right. Kaguya was walking beside him. "Erm, the temple is that way." He pointed out to the opposite direction.

"I know." She replied still walking on par with him.

Noticing how she kept following he chose to ask her about it. "So, what are you doing?"

"Nothing." Was her short answer glancing around, only stopping to greet people on the way.

The short walk to the hospice was tense, Kaguya had been following Hadrian without saying a word.

Hadrian glanced at the shrine maiden walking besides him with a calm look. "Are you following me?" he was sure this was the case but he had to ask.

She shook her head keeping a calm and serene look. "I'm not following you. I'm heading to the hospice." Hadrian stopped on his tracks and she mirrored his actions. She remained there looking at him with a blank look, their actions gathered the looks of the people on the streets. "They are staring. Weren't you heading off to work?"

"Why do you want to come to the hospice? Are you feeling unwell?" he asked with concern checking on her.

Kaguya ever the calm shrine maiden answered to his question. "I assure you, I am perfectly fine. It is I the one who should ask about it. You have been acting… odder than usual for a while."

Hadrian chuckled nervously. "Is that what this is all about? You don't need to worry. I am perfectly fine. For a second there I thought it was something serious." He laughed awkwardly before reassuring her that he was fine.

"Even if you say so, your wellness is a concern of mine." Replied Kaguya. "You are this fortress, no, Eostia's finest hea-doctor." She quickly corrected herself knowing how Hadrian got worked over when people called him a healer. "The people rely on you whenever they get hurt or sick. Your wellness is pivotal to the overall health of the people." She added before shaking her head. "I still can't believe so many people rely on someone like you." She was talking about his goofy and childish acts. "You should take the health of your patients seriously."

"I do." Hadrian defended himself. "I really care for my patients and always do my best to give them the best treatment."

"Yet you act like a clown." Added Kaguya. This, this was something she had against him. Perhaps if he acted more like the adult he was, she could come to somewhat respect him. She had nothing against him not wanting to fight in the war. There were enough men fighting at the frontlines.

"Well." He started. "My patients feel at ease the way I am." He defended himself. "If people see me as a clown, that's fine by me. As long as I can heal my patients I don't care about much else." By the time he was done talking he arrived at the hospice door and opened it. "Now, are you going to stay out here or would you rather walk in?"

Without saying a word, the shrine maiden walked into the hospice.

Scene change

Vault walked in Keane's tent after a skirmish with the aberrants. Nothing they could not deal with, specially when they had Arnell with them. He saw the most curious thing. Keane was in the middle of the room, bare chested with a hand over his heart and with his other hand touching his forehead with two fingers.

"What are you doing?" asked Vault sitting by Keane's side.

"Do not interrupt him." Arnell said walking in.

"Oh, it's you, care to tell me what is he doing?"

"He is learning to harness the mana within to mimic the way mana fluctuates naturally in an elf's body. An old practice, lost to the ages." Explained the undead.

"So, what does this do? Does it make him elfish?" asked Vault curious about the process.

The dark lord chuckled. "In a manner of speaking." He said gesturing with his head at the younger mage. "This process is a slow one, takes years if not decades to master, once the ritual is complete, the person will stop aging altogether."

Vault's eyes widened in disbelief. "For real?!" getting a nod from the undead as a confirmation he whistled. "Shit had I known, I would have practiced magic." Arnell laughed making the mercenary leader narrow his eyes. "What's so funny?"

"If it was so easy, everyone would try to learn this art. Indeed, those who have mastered this art, have become ageless, but at a prize." The undead pointed out crossing his arms over his chest. "It takes a long time to master this. Most achieve this on their elderly years. They become ageless? Yes. Immortals? No." he shook his head with an amused grin. "They bleed like any other man. Cut their head, destroy their heart, and they will die. There is another problem though, they do not become younger." Explained the undead with an arrogant grin. "Sure, they can cast an illusion to appear younger, but that does not change what they are, old men. Weak and of frail bodies. They are the reason most mages are pictured as elderly men with white hair and long beards." He paused to look at Kenae, Arnell was amused seeing his apprentice trying so hard. Chuckling he continued. "Master this at a young age, though, and there won't be a single difference between an elf and a sorcerer. I am one of those that have achieved such a state."

"Shit." swore the mercenary glancing at Keane. "Imagine all you could do with eternal youth." Vault could not help himself but imagine what he would do if he had eternal youth. The women he could bed.

"It's a shame you did not choose to follow the path of the mage. Regardless, this art is not for everyone. It requires a certain degree of compression of the arcane, effort and aptitude." Arnell said. "This is one of the thresholds a mage must surpass to weed out the weak and worthless."

"Heh, that's funny coming from an undead." Vault pointed out half jesting, half stating.

"Indeed. I have certainly beaten death." He said lifting his glamour staring at his skeletal hands, the bones giving off a faint purple glow.

"That glow, I suppose that means we are getting closer to your resurrection." Added Vault glancing at the undead's hands.

"Perhaps... We still need the dark elf, and the high elf you are so obsessed with. Once I have them, I will conduct the ritual and be reborn." He declared with conviction the eye sockets starting to glow an eerie purple. "I already had been instructing the laborers how to build an adequate chamber for the ritual in this new fortress."

"Just as we planned, huh?" Vault sneered. He could not wait for that day to come. "Once that fortress is complete, we will be able to launch a full siege on Eostia unopposed. After we capture Olga, of course."

"We shall see." He said recasting the glamour over himself and crossing his arms over his chest. "Did you sent your men to kill that doctor like I asked?" he inquired.

Blinking Vault stared at the undead for a few seconds before he recalled their conversation. "Oh yes. You wanted that doctor dead." He recalled. "You, Graves and Shamuhaza." The mercenary whistled, almost pitying the doctor in making so many enemies in such a short time. "That doctor must have the worst luck to piss you guys off, and in a short time to boot. You don't have to worry about him, though. The boys I sent must have already arrived at Thorn, they will deal with him, they are… some nasty fellas. Must be on their way back by now, with his head." He said with a grin.

"Let's hope they are." Arnell said narrowing his eyes.

Scene change

Whimpers could be heard in the hospice. A man sitting on a chair was struggling to not cry in front of the shrine maiden. 'This is the worst. In front of Kaguya-sama. I will never live this down.' The man looked down at his right arm. He had a laceration on his forearm.

"Remind me again, how did this happen?" Asked the doctor cleaning the wound with some salve that made the man hiss in pain and discomfort.

"It was nothing, really." The man averted his eyes, blushing as he stole another glance at Kaguya. "I was just trying to show the new boy how to use the farming tools when I slipped on something and cut myself with the sickle." He recounted for the fifth time.

It was a lie, though. He just wanted to show off before the older sister of the boy. He boasted of his expertise in using the farming tools and claimed he could charge into the frontlines with his tools alone, that he could beat a horde of demons on his own. It should have been fine, had he not been acting like an idiot and twirling his farming tool, then…

The farmer blushed. He did not scream like a little girl at the sight of blood regardless of what others may be saying.

"Are you sure?" pressed the doctor, chuckling and picking up a needle.

"Oi! What are you g-gonna do with that?!" stammered the farmer squirming, he was starting to sweat as he saw the needle glinting as the doctor inched closer and closer with the needle in hand.

"I have to close the wound." He explained. "Relax, I'm a doctor. You can trust me with your body." He grinned with his glasses sliding down revealing his green glowing eyes, scaring the poor farmer.

He started to sweat seeing the needle drawing closer. "W-wait I changed my mind there is no need for- Aaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!" The farmer cried as the doctor held him in place and started to stich his wound.

"Stay still." The doctor hissed softly, suturing the wound.

"C-cant you just use you magic to-Aaaaaaaaaaaaah! Heal-ME?!" He said as he glanced at the shrine maiden, with a pleading look, begging for her help, which in turn made her look away. The poor farmer felt betrayed. 'This is the worst.'

Grinning Hadrian replied. "I could." It was the only answer he gave. As he finished suturing the wound and bandaging it. "There we go. It wasn't that bad, was it?" He asked with a wide grin on his face making the farmer scowl. Hadrian once finished walked over to a bowl of water and washed his hands. "Make sure you don't get dirt on your wound for the coming days, come back in a few days and we will see how it goes."

"Very well." He stood up inspecting his arm, but his eyes quickly drifted over to check out the shrine maiden. 'She is quite the beauty. I can't believe I am in the same room as Kaguya-sama and-.'

Cold. He felt cold all of a sudden, he felt a chill going his back as a hand grabbed on his shoulder. "Don't be home late." Said the doctor behind him. "It's going to be quite cold tonight. I would hate to see you catch a cold." He glanced back, the doctor was not wearing his glasses. He had to admit, the doctor looked quite intimidating without his glasses on, specially with those glowing green eyes and wide grin on his face.

Turning around, the farmer laughed nervously. "Y-yes, getting a cold would be q-quite bad." The doctor's grin widened as he inched closer to the farmer's face. "I-I gotta go!" He shouted darting out of the hospice, leaving a trail of dust on his way as he speeded past the people on his way and run all the way to his house.

Once again alone, the doctor relaxed putting on his glasses.

"Don't you think you went too far?" He stopped as Kaguya made that question. "Your eyes were glowing like beacons." She said looking at his eyes. "Scaring off a farmer, what would people say." She chastised, although the smile on her lips said otherwise.

With a smile of his own the doctor replied. "I don't know what you are talking about, I just told him to be careful on his way back home." Explained the doctor shrugging his shoulders. "If he perceived my warning as a threat is not my doing."

The shrine priestess hummed in thought. "Just how do you do that?" She asked.

"Do what?" Asked the doctor.

"That glowing eye trick." She said staring at the doctor's eyes. "Even now they are still glowing."

"Oh that." He scratched his head in embarrassment. "It's the after effects of a ritual to increase my magical reserves. It worked, somewhat, but when I tap into my magic my eyes glow brighter."

"You performed a ritual to gain more power? You?" she asked not believing someone like him would attempt such a thing.

Hadrian nodded taking off his glasses. "It was several years ago. I was going through some hardships and found my current power lacking. I needed more." He said recalling the events. "I made a 'hole' in my magical core and another one in the immaterial plane. The ritual used both holes, fusing them together to close each other. The 'hole' in my core was closed with the immaterial plane, and the 'hole' in the immaterial plane was closed with my core." He explained. "I tap directly from the immaterial plane, giving me access to a nearly endless amount of mana, at least as much as my body can handle."

"That's sounds complicated, and dangerous." Observed Kaguya looking at his eyes with a critical eye.

Hadrian sighed. "Yes. I went through great pains to perform this ritual, but it is exactly what I needed when I needed it."

"Why would you do that?" Asked Kaguya.

"Why?" Hadrian smirked. "Because I had to be the best."

"The best?" pressed Kaguya wanting him to elaborate further.

Hadrian nodded. "The strongest. Perhaps in the whole world." He said with pride shining in those eyes of his.

"Yet that did not happen." stated Kaguya as a matter of fact. "Until you arrived at Eostia no one knew of your magical talents or deeds."

Hadrian chuckled to himself with an embarrassed look. "I guess you are right."

"Come to think of it. Where did you learn your magic?" she asked, curious about where he learned.

Hadrian paused and mussed over her question. "Hm? Here and there. Some at the orphanage thanks to the donation of some of the previous orphans who came to visit sis. A few elves I met on my journeys, libraries, other sorcerers… you know, the usual." He said "That's the good thing about travelling, you are bound to learn a thing or two."

She nodded, she could appreciate a person travelling for the sake of self-improvement, but there was one thing she wanted to ask the black-haired doctor. "So, last time we talked, you said you were not always a doctor."

"Yeah?" asked Hadrian pausing before widening his eyes recalling the conversation they had. "Oh, you are right. I did say that."

"Hm. So what were you? an alchemist? a runecrafter? an adventurer? a mercenary?" She asked curious about what else he could do.

"Erm. All of the above, I guess. Plus a few other trades." Replied Hadrian scratching the bride of his nose.

"You were, what?" Asked the shrine maiden looking at the black-haired man as if was the first time she saw him.

Hadrian decided to tell her how he came to learn so many trades. "Yes. Well, first I started learning the arcane arts at a rather young age. Then, as time passed, I started to craft amulets which then I would enchant, that gave me some experience smithing, first simple thing such as pendants, rings, you know, the works. After that I moved to craft more elaborated things such as gloves or boots, and even clothes."

"So, you are also an enchanter and a blacksmith? And that halberd, you can fight too?" She asked.

"I can fight, yes." Admitted Hadrian. "Although I hope I don't need to fight, but it does not hurt to be prepared."

"I'm seriously thinking about telling this to Alicia so she comes to draft you in the army." She said which made the doctor chuckle with a nervous look.

Hadrian chuckled nervously wiping the sweat from his forehead. "That's a joke, right?"

The shrine maiden smiled mysteriously "Maybe."

Timeskip

For the next hours they expended time together. As much as it pained her, Kaguya had to admit that the doctor was growing on her. Eventually, Hadrian closed the hospice for the day and the two walked around Thorn until late in the night. It was then that hey decided to head back home.

"I must admit, I had a great time." Confessed the shrine maiden as they reached the door to their home.

She was about to open the door when Hadrian grabbed her hand.

"There is someone inside." Hissed Hadrian looking at the house taking off his glasses.

Kaguya stiffened before relaxing her posture. "I see…" She whispered back to him. "Let's be cautious. I can immobilize this person with my talismans."

"I will be counting on you." He said opening the door and walking in.

It was dark, they walked silently, careful not to make a sound. They checked the living room, then the pantry. "Someone had been raiding our pantry." Added the doctor checking on the food in storage. The doctor retrieved a half-eaten carrot. It had tooth marks all over it. 'These marks are…'

"Is something wrong?"

"They had been eating from the pantry, if I were them, I would take a bath and go to sleep in a comfy bed after that." Pointed out the doctor.

Kaguya rose an eyebrow at the doctor's rather strange theory. "So you want to check on our bedrooms?"

"My bedroom." Corrected the doctor. "No offense, but my bed is the comfiest one around." He said retrieving a lamplight and lighting it. "Let's see who exactly had broken in. Although I do have an idea on what we will find in there."

Waling silently, both shrine maiden and doctor were now in front of Hadrian's bedroom. Taking a deep breath, the doctor slid the door open.

'I though as much.' Thought the doctor looking at his bed.

Kaguya poked her head from behind him, clutching a paper tag. She rose an eyebrow when she noticed something shifting and moving under the bedsheets of Haadrian's bed.

"Hadrian. What is that? Its too small to be-"

"Here is our cat burglar!" He said pulling the bedsheets back.

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!"

The girlish yelp threw the shrine priestess for a loop. Her mouth was agape when she realized what exactly she was seeing. It was a girl, curled into a ball and… Were those wings? Her eyes widened when she realized the girl had wings, dak feathered wings growing out of her back. Then she noticed the long spaded purple tail and the horns growing out of her head. The girl was not human. The girl lifted her gaze to look at the two adults, regarding them with a look of fear. She was quite the novelty, with flawless smooth pale skin, pointed ears, amber eyes and shoulder neck magenta colored hair. Curiously enough, she had an oval shaped red gemstone on her forehead.

"A demon… child?" Asked Kaguya, hoping Hadrian could clarify what she was.

"Not quite. At least not the kind of demons that qualify as aberrants. This is a type of succubus. But not the common one." He said inspecting the girl. "If I am not mistaken, I believe this girl is a tiefling" He said crouching down to look at the girl who bared her fangs at them and hissed. "Calm down." Started Hadrian. "I'm not going to hurt you." He said in shushing tone. Leaning closer to her he reached out to her with his hand. "I'm Hadrian. What's your name?"

The girl lunged forward and biting on the doctor's hand, making him grunt in pain.

The doctor hissed as he felt the girl bite down on his hand. 'She has some sharp gnashers.' "It-" He flinched as her bite hurt. "It's ok." He said struggling to put her on a one-armed hug. "Kah-Kaguya! Could you bring us a cup of hot milk? Ah-please?" he hissed, trying to keep the girl still.

"Hadrian let me."

"P-please. Just do what I say." He hissed. "Trust me."

For a moment she hesitated, she was thinking seriously on using her Onmyōdō spells on the demon girl. "I… very well."

The moment she left Hadrian used his free hand placing it on the girls back, a green glow coating his hand. "Illusion: Songbird's Song." He could feel how the girl stopped biting on his hand and how her muscles relaxed. Soon enough, she was docile, looking at the doctor with curiosity. "There, there. It's ok. You will be ok. Ow…" He held his wounded hand and performed another spell. "Abjuration: Healing Light." He hissed as his flesh slowly knitted itself together until it completely healed, not even leaving a scar.

The girl's gaze looked in wonder at the magic being performed before her eyes. Noticing her expression the doctor chuckled.

Hearing footsteps the girl focused on Kaguya who had just returned with a cup of milk. "Here." she said handing it to the doctor.

"Thank you." The doctor chuckled seeing the demoness gulping. Carefully he handed her the cup. "Careful. It's hot."

The girl slowly drank the milk while the adult waited patiently for her to finish. Once she was done drinking, she yawned feeling her eyelids become heavier and heavier. Hadrian picked her up and placed her gently on his bed.

"The poor thing, she was tired." Said Hadrian placing his hand over her forehead.

"What was she doing here?"

"Obviously, she was hungry. Can't fault a kid for wanting to eat. Have you noticed her bruises?" He asked as he carefully lifted her rags to show some more of her skin. "Whip marks. They are all over her, I think she is an escaped slave. I would know, I healed a few of them during my travels, not one this young though. My guess? they killed her parents to train this one at a young age. Given her magical potential I would no doubt it. She is bound to grow into a fearsome tiefling."

"A slave. That's impossible, there are no slaves in Eostia." Refuted the shrine maiden repulsed at the idea of slaves in her very fortress.

Sighing he gave Kaguya a pitying look, sometimes, she was so innocent, perhaps too much for her own good. "Kaguya, you are a smart woman. Think about it. They are outlawed, yes." He admitted. "That does not mean there are not any. I would know…" he said as he reminisced something from his past.

"Hadrian?" There was something about the way he talked that worried the shrine maiden.

"Sorry. It's nothing. It's getting late and I ah…" he glanced to the girl sleeping on his bed. "Kaguya, could you do me a favor?"

"What is it?"

He mulled over what to say to Kaguya. He knew she could refuse but he would not lose anything just by asking. "I will be honest. I don't think that the first thing that girl should see is a man on the same bed with her. Could you… could you sleep with her? Just for tonight, until we decide what to do with her."

"The three… in the same bed?" asked Kaguya. Under normal circumstance she would say no but-

"No." He shook his head. "Just you and the girl." He replied. "I will sleep somewhere else. Do not worry about me. all that matters now is to make sure that girl is alright."

Looking at Hadrian and then back at the girl sleeping on the bed she took a deep breath. "Fine." She agreed even if she felt this would give her a headache further down the line. "But only for tonight. I don't feel at ease sleeping next to a demon." She said in an attempt to put some resistance. "Don't worry though, I will watch over her." She said softening her features as she looked at the girl softly snoring. "Now leave, I need to undress."

"Eh? Ah… sure. Sleep well." He said walking out of the room.

Taking of her clothes she sighed heavily. "Honestly, this is a hassle." She got on the bed and covered herself and the girl in the soft sheets. She smiled seeing the peaceful look on the little girl. 'I have to admit it, this bed is quite comfy.' She thought as she fell asleep.

Scene Change

Garan, The dark fortress

As this was happening, at Garan, far to the north, in the dark fortress another person was struggling with her own doubts. This was Olga Discordia, the dark elf queen, as many dubbed her, even if such a claim was not confirmed.

She was an elven woman of unearthly beauty with long black hair that grew all the way down to her ankles with a fringe covering her right eye, two piercing amber eyes and two long pointed ears. She had smooth dark olive skin, a slim build, and large breasts nearly as big as Cellestine's own bosom. Further down she had a slim waist with a tattoo above her crotch, right over where her womb would be. Even further down, hips flared into child bearing hips, a round rear, thick tights, and long smooth legs.

The woman was wearing what looked to be purple crop top that showed off her navel and barely covered her nipples, over her shoulders rested a high collared cape. The most distinctive accessory, however was a silver crown atop her head.

Standing next to her was another dark skinned elf. A young woman with long blond hair in a ponytail and ruby red eyes. She was not as buxom as Olga, nor where her ears as prominent as Olga's.

This was Chole, Olga's loyal vassal.

Normally she would be wearing her skimpy leather armor and gloves, but currently she was wearing a hooded cloak concealing her body. This was because she had been sent to spy down south.

Olga sighed as she took the rolled parchment from the beak of a raven who crooned and flew over to Chloe's shoulder. Unrolling the parchment her amber eyes peered over the contents of the letter, one of many she had been receiving for the last three years. Normally she would scoff at the idea of someone sending her letters through ravens of all things, but the letters were written in elven script, so curiosity got the better of her and started to read them. She did not know who was the one behind these letters, but whoever it was kept her informed of the moves the alliance was making. It was a reliable source of information, and she was not going to look at a gifted horse in the mouth, not when she needed as much information as she could get. The last letter was most concerning. Before she started to read the letter out loud.

'It has come to my attention that the outpost will be built in a matter of weeks. I'm afraid that this can't be stopped. I understand that your aberrants have been trying to deter the work of the alliance to little result. You may have heard of the kuroinu mercenaries having a powerful mage on their side. He is the cause. His name is Arnell Latrua from the noble house of Atmaris. In case you are not familiar with Ruveroan history, you should know that house Atmaris has been defunct since well over six hundred years.'

She stopped halfway. Her eyebrow twitched, a snarl marring her beautiful features. 'Latrua? Arnell Latrua?' She knew that name. She hated that name. 'That revolting piece of human filth is still alive?!' After taking some deep breaths, she continued reading the letter.

'Regardless of who he claims to be, he is indeed a powerful mage. Well versed in combat magic and alchemy. He is not someone to be taken lightly. I recommend extreme caution when dealing with him.'

She knew. She knew it was true. Regardless of her vindictiveness, she could not underestimate any mage of that caliber. Filling out that information for later she kept reading.

'I understand that you may not want to surrender or run away, but regardless of your pride I insist you have an escape plan. My advice is for you to read Planes and Conjuration Vol. V, Chapter 4.'

She paused for a moment recalling said book, she remembered that chapter. "That would be teleportation magic." Normally she would scoff at the mention of running away but her mysterious benefactor had been helping her, keeping her informed for the past three years and counting. "What do you think Chloe?" Asked the dark elf queen looking at her subordinate who in turn stopped petting the raven.

"Well…" she hesitated looking at her mistress while the raven crooned asking for attention of the ruby eyed elf. "Whoever it was had been providing us with information asking for nothing in return. It could be a trap. I mean, who could possibly assist us? Most of our kin have not been exactly thrilled about our campaign against humans, my lady. Who could possibly be sending the letters?"

The dark elf queen hummed in thought. "As of now I have some ideas. One could be Cellestine herself in an attempt to reach out to me." she scoffed at the notion of the high elf attempting such a thing after so many years of war. "It would be foolish but not unlikely. That sanctimonious high elf with her high moral ground and foolish ideals. She knows nothing of sacrifice. Of what is needed to win wars." she hissed at the idea of being indebted to Cellestine, to receive mercy from her… she'd rather get decapitated than actually accept mercy. "As if!" She shook her head at the possibility and took a moment to calm down. "Another would be another dark elf that sympathizes with our cause, but does not dare to reveal themselves. It could also be a human that may want to gain something out of it. Perhaps to rule a large portion of Eostia in exchange. All in the belief that I would owe this individual a favor." She said knowing how some humans could betray their friends and allies just for simple greed.

"What should we do?"

Hearing the question from her vassal Olga closed her eyes. "We will continue with our strategy. Although, I will prepare in the eventuality that our fortress is under siege." She crossed her arms over her large breasts. "Drawing the magic circle is such a hassle. But the good thing about this teleportation magic is that you don't need much mana to activate it."

"I will take this one with the others." Chloe said ruffling the raven's feathers.

Olga could not help but smile at that. One good thing that came from this was that Chloe had grown fond of the birds. She never thought she would end up making use of the rookery. Now it was teeming with an unkindness of ravens.

As soon as Chloe left, she hugged herself with her black cape. 'Arnell is still alive?' She tightened her grasp on her cape grinding her teeth together with a look full of hatred. "I will kill him." She declared with conviction.

Scene change

Thorn

It felt so nice to be on the arms of her mother, so warm. The bed was nice and fluffy and her mother gave off a pleasant scent as she pressed her head further into her bosom to use it as pillows.

Wait.

Her mother's bosom was far bigger than that.

Where was she?

Where was her mama?

Opening her eyes. The tiefling saw she was in the arms of a black-haired woman of pale skin still asleep. 'That's right. Mama is dead. They killed her and I… I was taken as a slave, they made me do things, they were teaching me to… Mama! I want mama! Get away! I need to get away!' "Huh?" looking around she realized she was not in that underground dungeon. 'That's right. I got away.' She recalled how they were transporting her to someplace near Feoh, something about her body parts being useful reagents for a lord Latrua. How they travelled by night, only to get ambushed by wolves.

It all came back to her. She recalled that, while her slavers fought off the beasts, she managed to escape. She could not recall what happened after that, all felt confused, so hungry, so cold, but then. 'Where am I? who is this woman?'

Then she remembered. Tasty food, warm potent mana coming from that room, the fluffy bed, and then…

Her eyes widened as she recalled the last events before she fell asleep.

"You are awake."

She yelped as she stared into the shrine maiden's eyes.

"Calm down." Said Kaguya holding the tiefling close to her chest. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"B-but you are a shrine maiden! Your people put demons in pots full of boiling oil!" She shrieked agitating her small wings and tail trying to squeeze out from the shrine maiden's arms.

Kaguya's jaw went slack as she looked at the tiefling in disbelief. "W-we don't do that. Who even said that?"

"The bad men." She said. "They told me the females at Thorn were evil witches that enjoy torturing demons like me."

The shrine maiden had an inkling on who were the bad men. "I see… well, they lied. We do not do that."

"As if I would believe it. You are going to sell me out to the evil princess knights."

"The evil princess knights?" Asked Kaguya with a twitching eyebrow.

"Yeah, they sent the bad men to our home. They set it on fire. Mama… Mama got hurt. She was in there… mama was screaming…" she hiccupped. "They… they dragged me away." She said crying. "And then… they put me in the box."

"A box?" asked Kaguya she hoped it was not what she was thinking.

"This box with bars the put me in." explained the tiefling.

Kaguya could not believe what she was hearing. 'A cage. They put her on a cage.' She could not believe a child, even if said child was a demon had to go through that torment.

It was at that moment the door opened and in walked Hadrian with a tray. "Hello. How is our guest?" he asked leaning closer.

Kaguya's face went red before immediately covering her naked form with the bedsheets. "LEAVE! NOW!" she screamed.

"Pfffffffffffft Sorry!" He hurried to walk out snickering.

Kaguya huffed in annoyance as she heard his snickers even from behind the closed door. "Honestly." She said hurrying to put on her garments. "'Now' you can come in." she hissed out.

The doctor walked in still with a grin on his face. "I don't know why you got embarrassed. You have beautiful breasts. Nothing to be ashamed of." She narrowed her eyes. "Besides, you have nothing to worry about, I am a doctor." He said as his glasses glinted with his grin widening.

"You are lucky we have a guest." She said trying not to give in and hit him, she soooooooooo wanted to punch him. 'Seriously, how can he get me so flustered.' She held her hand over her heart as she felt it drum against her chest.

Seeing the doctor, the girl hissed trying to get away.

"Calm down. It's just my fool of a husband." Hurried to say Kaguya to calm down the tiefling.

"Husband?" she tilted the head to the side looking adorable. "Ah!" her eyes widened in realization. "Like a mate?" She asked.

"Something like that." Answered Hadrian crouching down before the bed to stare at her eyes. "You gave us quite the fright sneaking into our home."

She looked away from the doctor. "I was hungry." She said with a bashful look.

Hadrian chuckled. "I understand. There is nothing worst than a growling stomach, right?"

The girl nodded agreeing with Hadrian's words. "Yes. I have been hungry for a long while. And the food they gave me tasted horrible. The bread was hard and the water had some weird color, tasted horrible." She stuck out her tongue, recalling the bitter taste of what they fed her.

'Most likely potions to suppress her powers. Makes sense as she is not braded or have magical shackles.' Observed Hadrian. "Well. I'm sure these cookies and milk will taste much, much better than stale bread and funny water." He said placing the tray in Kaguya's lap.

"Can I really eat those cookies?" asked the tiefling as Kaguya helped the tiefling sit upright.

"Sure, on one condition though." Replied Hadrian with a growing smile. "You have to…" he trailed off making the tiefling gulp. "You have to give me your name."

"My name? just that?" getting a nod from Hadrian she looked to Kaguya then back at Hadrian. "Radomira." She said picking up a cookie and eating it. She hummed in delight. it had been quite a while since she had cookies.

"Radomira. That's a pretty name. A pretty name for a pretty girl." The words of the doctor made the magenta haired tiefling blush. Sitting by the edge of the bed he gave her a sympathetic look. "Must have been hard being a slave."

Radomira shook her head vehemently. "I am not a slave."

"You are right." Admitted the doctor. "Sorry about that. So, what are you going to do?" He asked.

"What I am going to do?" parroted the tiefling tilting her head.

Hadrian nodded. "Yes. You are no longer a slave. You can go and do whatever you want. So that's my question. What are you going to do from now on?"

"I…" the teifling paused to think about it. "I don't know."

"Of course you don't know." Said Kaguya placing a hand on her back trying to show her support for the girl. "You are a child." She said giving an annoyed glance at the doctor, making emphasis in the word 'child'.

"She won't be one for long." Said Hadrian. "Speaking of which, how old are you?" asked the doctor making the tiefling look down in thought.

"Twelve." Replied Radomira. "I'm twelve years old."

"I see…" Considering how quickly they grow, the teifling was a ticking bomb. A wellspring of power with no control, or morals to speak off thanks to those slavers. Who knows what kind of trauma's the girl had.

He thought about the possible scenarios. He could let her go on her way. That would leave her open to be captured again or killed. She could escape but as she was, she could grow up to be cruel and manipulative. And this particular tiefling was a powerful one. That left him with one last choice.

"Say Radomira. Do you want to stay here?" asked Hadrian making Kaguya gape in disbelief.

"Hadrian. We were supposed to talk about this." Hissed Kaguya.

"That's what I'm doing." He said dismissing her concerns. "As she is, she has several options, most bad, some good. But it would be a waste to let her go without offering this."

Radomira gained a pensive look. The doctor was offering her to stay. She could have a home again. It did sound good to be able to sleep under a roof after expending so long in captivity or lost in the wilderness. "I can stay here? Would I have good food and a warm bed? And… a bath?" she said the last part, as the closest thing he had to a bath was a bucket of cold water splashed on her.

Chuckling Hadrian replied to Radomira's question. "Yes. Warm baths too. That and more." He said cupping his hands together creating a ball of blue fire. "I offer to take you in as my apprentice." He said shaping the flame into a small horse that started to gallop in the air around the room.

Both the shrine maiden and tiefling looked in wonder at the magical display. Kaguya had to admit it was a beautiful display. Radomira though, looked at it with childish glee and a small smile on her face.

Kaguya watched the look of wonder on the tiefling with a small smile of her own. She could see the advantages of Hadrian taking her in as an apprentice. She would be close by and she would be able to keep an eye on her in case she turned to be dangerous.

"I want to stay." Said the tiefling, accepting the doctor's offer. "I want to learn to do things like that." She said pointing to the horse who galloped back to the doctor's hands and hissed out of existence.

"Hadrian, are you sure you will be able to take care of this girl?" asked Kaguya, just to be sure that the doctor knew what he was getting himself into. "Taking care of a child is no easy task, more so, a preteen. And a tiefling?" She added the last part as she knew nothing of the girl's species.

He waved off Kaguya's concerns. "Relax. This won't be the first time I take care of kids." He said trying to reassure the shrine maiden. "Perks of living in an orphanage, you get the chance to be an elderly sibling to a ton of kids. You won't believe the number of times I had to change diapers." He added. "And… it won't be the first student I take under my wing. I have taught others before. Don't worry, it will be fine."

"Well…" trailed off Kaguya glancing at the tiefling who stared back at her. "Fine, she can stay. It's not like taking her in is going to change the future of Selenus."

"Well, I guess it is official." Said Hadrian clapping both hands together. "Welcome to your new life, Radomira."

Radomira did not know it, but on that day, she met the one man that could and would change her fate.

Chapter End